Grants made to rural communities

Download a full list of awards made to rural communities (pdf format) - please click with right mouse button and choose "Save As" or "Save Target As".)

Below is a selection of successful projects that have benefitted people who live in need in the countryside.

South West

North Devon Area Committee of Young Farmers' Clubs

�42,185 over three years
Date awarded: 2001

Outreach support to young people who run, manage or volunteer for Young Farmers' Clubs. The group supports 8 YFCs in North Devon, and the aim of the project is to enhance the personal and social development of young people in this rural area. The project also aims to develop the skills of volunteers so that they can support local groups beyond the life of the project. Our grant will pay for the whole project - the salary of a part-time development worker and associated costs.

Bude Holsworthy and DIstrict Citizens Advice Bureau

�122,168 over three years
Date awarded: 2001

A three year grant which will enable this Citizens Advice Bureau to deliver a better quality, accessible service in an area where there is little or no alternative advice provision. The money will pay for the salaries of a full-time Training and Development Officer and administrative and management support, a computer and other costs.

Eastern

Cambridgeshire Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs

�36,649 over three years
Date awarded: 1999

This completed project used their grant to open new clubs.

East Suffolk MIND

�388,319 over three years
Date awarded: 2000

A project to develop an existing resource centre for people with mental health problems and provide an outreach service for people in isolated village communities. The grant, over three years, will pay for construction of a new craft room, the salaries of three staff, lease of a vehicle and running costs.

MIND identified that some of the work might centre around the farming community and the high suicide rates and incidence of depression in agricultural areas.

Yorkshire and the Humber

Third Age Challenge York Ltd

Awarded �161,979
Date awarded: 1999

This was for an expansion of a project which provides training and support for mature unemployed people through a programme of integrated ICT training, personal counselling and job search support.

Hambleton Citizens Advice Bureau

Awarded �161,455
Date awarded: 2000

This was to develop an existing Charities Board funded project to provide money and welfare advice for people on low incomes in rural areas.

Ryedale Council for Voluntary Action

Awarded �125,726
Date awarded: 2000

People experiencing mental distress will have access to free counselling. Local access points and a home visiting service will help combat isolation across Ryedale.

Sherburn Village Hall

Awarded �49,921
Date awarded: Oct 2001

To refurbish the village hall and establish an internet and photocopying facility for use by the community.

North East

Northumberland Rural Stress Initiative

Awarded �297,560

A project to address the mental and physical health problems arising from rural isolation, poor access to support services and the decline in rural communities by co-ordinating and supporting a network of agencies throughout rural Northumberland. They provide outreach information, advice and counselling on an outreach basis to individuals. Involves CAB, Relate and Northumberland Distance Debt Unit. Susan Cross Co-ordinator, said, "I want to see a leaflet by every phone in rural Northumberland. We want to make the connection between the person needing help and the right agency".

Wear Valley Volunteer Development Agency Ltd

�139,396 over three years
Date awarded 1999

A project to develop the work of the existing volunteer bureau with recruiting and deploying volunteers and enable an extension of their activities to the rural upper Dales area. Manager Michele Armstrong said, "The new outreach worker will recruit volunteers for different agencies. There's a need for a worker dedicated to outlying areas of Wear Valley. People interested in volunteering cannot always travel to our Crook office and this might put them off offering their services". During the winter, the project mobilised volunteers to meet the needs of those who suffered as a result of the floods.

West Midlands

South Staffordshire CVS

�269,284 over three years

A project to develop the service of the Rural Mental Health Project to meet the needs of the community in Mid Staffs. targeting farming families and working with other agencies within the area. They will staff a helpline from 6am to 10pm each day. The grant, over three years, will pay for the salaries of 2 f/t fieldworkers, 1 f/t administrator and 1 f/t project co-ordinator, management costs and travel costs.

Community Council of Shropshire

�117,349 over three years
Date awarded 1999

This project will improve access to jobs and training for young people living in isolated rural areas in Shropshire by providing a vehicle loan scheme, subsidised driving lessons, a lift sharing scheme and a minor repair and grants scheme. The grant, over three years, will pay for mopeds, training for beneficiaries and travel costs.